Police: Second victim in Paoli shooting dies

Photo courtesy Indiana State PoliceCrime scene technicians continue to comb the scene Tuesday north of Paoli, looking for details in yesterday's shooting.

UPDATE FROM INDIANA STATE POLICE:

Information received Monday night during the course of the shooting investigation in Paoli was inaccurate.

Cory Michael Harris, 25, was airlifted from IU Health in Paoli to the University of Louisville Hospital in Louisville, KY as a result of a gunshot wound to the head.

Initial reports received and were confirmed that Harris had died at U of L.

At that time, that information was in error.

Harris was alive on life support, pending additional evaluation, until 2:35 p.m. Tuesday when the Jefferson County, Kentucky coroner pronounced him dead as a result of his gunshot wound sustained.

The Indiana State Police apologizes for the error.

(The story below has been corrected)

By BILL POWELLHerald Staff Writer

PAOLI — An early afternoon shooting Monday north of Paoli left two men dead, one injured and investigators working to find the person or people responsible.

Nicholas Fields, 56, of 2350 N. Orange County Road 200W, had been pronounced dead earlier in the day after being found shot in his residence three miles north of Paoli.

Cory Michael Harris, 25, of 2952 S. Log Creek Road, Paoli, who suffered a gunshot wound to his head, died at University of Louisville Hospital on Tuesday afternoon, according to Indiana State Police. Harris was listed as an organ donor and in order to carry out his wishes of donation, he had to be declared legally dead and his body had to be sustained by medical devices.

Daniel Smitson, 29, 3001 S. Unionville Road, Paoli, who had a gunshot wound to his mouth, remains in stable condition at U of L Hospital, according to authorities.

Orange County 911 received a call from a passerby just after 1 p.m. requesting medical assistance for a male lying near the roadway at Fields’ 2350 N. Orange County Road 200W address, which is also known as Sandy Hook Road.

Fields was pronounced dead after being transported to IU Health in Paoli with a gunshot wound to the head, police say.

Sgt. Philip Hensley, a spokesman for troopers at the Jasper post, said Smitson is talking but is also being very deceitful. Detectives have a list of leads that they are following, Hensley said.

Investigators and crime scene technicians have been processing the scene looking for clues and indications as to why the incident occurred. Troopers remained on scene throughout the night to maintain the security of the scene. Autopsies on the deceased were to take place today.

State police have released few additional details, noting the investigation is in its early stages.

Investigators have yet to speculate on how or why the incident occurred.

State police are asking anyone with information regarding this case to contact the Jasper Post of the Indiana State Police by calling 1-812-482-1441.

The Orange County Sheriff’s Department and Paoli Police Department assisted at the scene.